Talk Azeroth with Olivia: Support and the Store, Play with the Blues Event

Play With the Blues Event

Today from 2-4pm PST, Blizzard Devs and Community Managers will be hosting a "Play with the Blues" event on the PTR! They'll be testing out the Timeless Isle, an exciting zone filled with rare spawns, BoA epics, and tons of vanity loot!

Not sure where to start? Check out our Timeless Isle coverage--we've been having a blast tracking down all the hidden details on the island:

Talk Azeroth: Episode 9

We've also got a Talk Azeroth to share from a few days ago--check out what the in-game store's interface looks like!

This week, Olivia returns with more information on the in-game store, which has finally gone live... with a bit of jiggery-pokery... on the PTR. She shows you around the interface, and gives some more information on the Enduring Elixir of Wisdom. What's the multiplier, how long does it last, how much does it cost? Is any of this making you feel better about the in-game store?

And the Olivia moves on to the rumored new support class coming in WoW. How would it work? Would it be more like a pre-BC paladin, or a shaman with their totems, or more like a support class in a MOBA? What's more, how would it fit into the existing "trinity" of tank/healer/DPS, and does WoW really need another role?

Lastly, it's your comments on last week's show, and viewer questions! If you want to have your question answered the best way to get in touch with Olivia is via email to olivia@zam.com, or twitter @oliviadgrace, or by leaving a comment below!

Comments

Comment by beezischillin

on 2013-08-06T12:00:23-05:00

Well Blizzard really seems hell-bent on destroying the last bit of their subscriber base. For me, personally, microtransactions were the last drop I needed, so after mop is done, I guess I'm leaving. Blizzard seems to want the same amount of money for less and less content, which in turn is worse and worse; other MMORPGs can afford to run on microtransactions alone, with a really big profit margin, yet Activison (I meant Blizzerd, sry) isn't even satisfied with the heaps of money we've thrown at them already.

Talking about new classes, by the way, they didn't even decide what the hell they want from monks, even after a year. All we've been getting is more and more ridiculous class changes. Now they want to bring in the MOBA market too, by trying to imitate them too? Isn't this the greed that's been fueling the downfall post-BC, even post WoTLK?

Comment by lankybrit

on 2013-08-06T12:26:14-05:00

It really looks like Beez isn't chillin' at all, and is really mad.

Cheers.

Comment by beezischillin

on 2013-08-06T13:18:26-05:00

An opinion is not indicative of being mad at all, my friend. I'm simply stating the obvious. And I'm still chillin; beer in my hand, laying back in my armchair, playing Crysis (:

Comment by rinkworks

on 2013-08-06T13:48:08-05:00

Blizzard seems to want the same amount of money for less and less content

How is it less and less content when they keep adding content and only rarely taking it away? If you mean less and less NEW content, I still don't buy it. Cataclysm added 5 new leveling zones and an endgame zone. Pandaria added 6 new leveling zones and 3 (soon to be 4) endgame zones. What else did Pandaria add that Cataclysm did not? Scenarios, pet battles, the brawler's guild, farming, cooking paths, world bosses, black market auction house, challenge modes.... Honestly, it might be the most content-rich patch ever, despite having 1 or 2 fewer dungeons and raids than usual. WoW has a greater breadth of new content than ever before, including in the glory days of BC and Wrath. It might not be the content you like, but that doesn't mean there is less of it. It doesn't mean it sucks, either. If it's not your thing, move on and let the rest of us enjoy the ride.

microtransactions were the last drop I needed

How does your own game experience change at all if you choose to ignore the store, vs. not having it available at all? This is one of those situations where I can actually buy a slippery slope argument, but to quit the game before they've actually slipped to a pay-to-win model, which the 5.4 store does not, is silly.

I swear, the amount of griping on these comment boards is insane. Frustrating, too, because it drowns out the legitimate complaints. Blizzard might listen more when people have actual problems if there weren't a constant stream of "this sucks, so I'm quitting, even though I'm still going to stay here and remind everyone that I'm quitting" noise.

Comment by beezischillin

on 2013-08-06T14:25:13-05:00

I'm happy that you are satisfied, however microtransactions inside a game that already costs a crapton of money is annoying, not because it is a pay-to-win, but because, as I've written, microtransaction games can sustain a whole MMORPG by itself, supporting content development, QA, tech support, et cetera. Blizzard uses it mainly as a psychological tool to draw out twice as much money from the same horse, so forgive me for being pissed. Are they going to offer actionbar unlocks for money like EAware too? You want other reasons?

-Flexraids-The amount of stupid changes, that they, instead of just reversing, complicate to infinity (further destabilizing the already in-existent class balance)-Less content with each update (remember; Pandaria didn't even have all-unique 5mans). They didn't even bother doing a whole new raid for the Cataclysm endgame and neither do they for SoE.-Patch 5.3-Artificially trying to extend content shelf-life.

As far as I've seen lately, lot of my friend disappeared because they got bored enough not to care anymore.

>Just a few things. If you notice, I didn't just say "pvp is dead, im gonna qq". I came with arguments that are valid, at least for me, hope you are satisifed.

Comment by lankybrit

on 2013-08-06T14:29:07-05:00

RaF is also Pay to Win and you didn't quit over that. How come?

Cheers.

Comment by beezischillin

on 2013-08-06T14:52:28-05:00

It's a whole different route, dude. You really oversimplify, sorry. I see that you are really trying to justify a lot of stuff. It it works for you, good for you, a couple of mouths won't go hungry because the company is doing sloppy work. It doesn't work for me any more, so I'm switching for something that suits me more.

Cheers.

Comment by lankybrit

on 2013-08-06T15:31:02-05:00

OK, fair enough. Just pointing out that it isn't Pay to Win, it's Pay to do something just slightly quicker than before. Paying To Win would be having Tier Gear on the Store. I don't buy stuff off the store, and still have not intention of doing so. It doesn't bother me in the least.

Cheers.

Comment by BosephHeyden

on 2013-08-06T16:55:23-05:00

Maybe the reason everyone is quitting is because we've already killed Kael, Vashj, Illidan, Kil'jaeden, and Arthas? Keep in mind, this game got popular with mainstream audiences for one big reason: Warcraft 3. All the villains from that game are now dead (minus a minor one that was thought killed in WC3). Deathwing, Garrosh, even Nazgrim, are all built up from books. Very few people read books based on video games, so there's very little investment in those characters outside of what they do in the game. So it is natural that the subscription base will go down over time, and it makes sense the drop-off is this big. Monks not "having a role" (they do, they heal, dps, or tank depending on what you want them to do), microtransactions, pet battles, and all these other things will maybe drive away 100 people a month, max.

Blizzard can continue down the route they're on, and, so long as they don't half-ass it, their losses will be minimal. And acceptable.

Comment by Vladriel

on 2013-08-06T17:22:49-05:00

Some of you damn people really get bent out of shape over nothing... The micro-transactions isn't any different that the battlenet store. And the lot of you have no clue what a play to win game really is..pfft.. I think maybe you people should take a damn chill pill.

Comment by rinkworks

on 2013-08-07T08:33:52-05:00

I'm happy that you are satisfied, however microtransactions inside a game that already costs a crapton of money is annoying, not because it is a pay-to-win, but because, as I've written, microtransaction games can sustain a whole MMORPG by itself, supporting content development, QA, tech support, et cetera. Blizzard uses it mainly as a psychological tool to draw out twice as much money from the same horse, so forgive me for being pissed. Are they going to offer actionbar unlocks for money like EAware too? You want other reasons?

You still haven't given a good reason. So Blizzard gets more money? That should make you happy, because they get double (note: almost certainly not actually double) the resources to make the game better, and all without you personally having to spend any extra.

-Flexraids

This is also baffling to complain about. Once again, if you don't like flex raids, you don't have to run them, and your own personal gameplay experience will be unaffected.

The rest of your reasons are more opinions than arguments, which I suppose is fair. But just saying "Patch 5.3" and leaving it at that, for example, can't be something you can expect someone else to automatically care about, feel the same way about, or be persuaded by. I mean, I'm not saying your discontent is invalid, but the stated reasoning makes no sense.

Comment by gremz

on 2013-08-07T17:51:59-05:00

I have no problem at all with the in-game store. They sell pets out of game already, who cares if they put it in game? It just makes it even easier for those who were already going to buy them out of game.

As for the Enduring Elixir of Wisdom. Hell yea, sign me up. Leveling from 1-80 is pretty fast. It slows down a tad from 80-85, and it's a drag from 85-90 even with the 33% XP nerf. I would gladly buy some of those elixirs to help me speed up my leveling to 90.

As for the lesser charms - again, I have no problem with that. I am super sick and tired of doing old dailies - period. To the point that I won't run them for the charms for my new 90's that need them for the bonus rolls. But I would buy some if the price was right.

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